An epidemiological study of dementia in a rural population of elderly women.

A study of 365 women aged 70-79 in a rural community was carried out using the Cambridge Examination of Mental Disorders in the Elderly (CAMDEX). Prevalence rates of dementia are reported by severity for the 70-74 and 75-79 age groups. Differential diagnosis was made according to CAMDEX guidelines. Senile dementia of Alzheimer type accounted for half the dementia cases. The prevalence rates overall did not differ from those reported in other recent studies, but the rates for levels greater than mild/moderate were lower, despite the inclusion of subjects in institutions.